1. Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by the
University of Karachi on July 25, 1993
2. Doctor of Science (D. Sc.) by Baqai
Medical University, Karachi on
December 11, 1998
3. Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by Hamdard
University, Karachi on March 6, 1999
4. Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by Gomal
University, D. I. Khan, N.W.F.P, on April
16, 1999
5. Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by University
of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, on
December 9, 2000
6. Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by Sir Syed
University of Engineering & Technology,
Karachi, on March 25, 2001

BRIEF LIFE SKETCH
OF
DR. A. Q. KHAN, NISHAN-I-IMTIAZ & BAR, HILAL-I-IMTIAZ
As arrow of time moves, the Will of God prevails and is focused on the emergence of
humans endowed with exceptional intellectual capabilities and creative abilities. Such are the men
who, by their good deeds, fulfill the edict of God, as revealed in the Holy Qurran:
“I have created man in the best of forms.”
(Al Qurran; Surah 95; Ayah 04)
By their deeds and actions such persons, though not prophets, demonstrate that they are
an extension of the will of the transcendental. These are the people, who are destined to make
history in the elevation of nations. Such is the personality of Dr. Abdul Quadeer Khan, who was
born in Bhopal on April 1, 1936, which corresponds to the Hijri era 1355, Thursday 15th Rajab. As
the time has unfolded itself, the Godly qualities enshrined in the words “Quadeer” and “Ghafoor”,
symbolized in the names of Dr. Abdul Quadeer Khan and his father, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Khan,
have raised the Pakistani nation to new heights in high technology.
After receiving his early education in Bhopal, Dr. Abdul Quadeer Khan obtained the degree
of Bachelor of Science in 1960 from the University of Karachi. This was the beginning of the
unfolding of his intellectual power. Subsequently, he studied in Berlin, West Germany and
achieved high competence through attending several courses in metallurgical engineering. He
obtained the degree of Master of Science (Technology) in 1967 from Delft Technological
University, Holland, and Doctor of Engineering Degree in 1972 form the University of Leuven,
Belgium. The restless soul of Dr. Abdul Quadeer Khan took him to several laboratories in Europe
including Uranium Enrichment Plant in Holland. It was the essence of his being sharpened by high
scholastic achievements in metallurgical and nuclear science that his will and essence at all times
remained directed towards the welfare of Pakistan. In 1976, he joined the Engineering Research
Laboratories (ERL) in Pakistan and set up an uranium enrichment industrial plant. As a tribute to
his services for the security of Pakistan on May 1, 1981, the then President of Pakistan, General
Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq renamed the Engineering Research Laboratories, Kahuta, as, Dr. Abdul
Quadeer Khan Research Laboratories (KRL). These laboratories were equipped from nothing to
something focusing on enrichment of Uranium for peaceful application of nuclear technology. Over
the years, the laboratories became a focal point for a large number of scientists, engineers and
technologists which Dr. Abdul Quadeer Khan gathered around himself and guided them to the
tasks which have led to unparallel advances in science and technology. This was done under very
challenging and difficult circumstances. It was only his courage, devotion, determination and
persistence, which earned success for him, his colleagues and indeed for the nation.
The scientific contributions of Dr. Khan have been recognized in several ways. As an active
scientist and technologist, he has published 190 scientific research papers in international journals
of high repute. He has been editor of a large number of books on metallurgy, advanced materials
and phase transformation. His academic and scholastic activities have attracted the attention of
number of western countries where he has delivered more than 100 lectures. His work on
Industrial Uranium Enrichment Plant for peaceful application of nuclear technology has resulted in
a breakthrough in the field of metallurgy & materials science.
It is entirely due to his efforts that the process of enrichment of Uranium was successfully
completed in Pakistan. This breakthrough ultimately resulted in the historic explosion of six nuclear
bombs on May 28 and May 30, 1998. Not only this but a significant development was also made
with the successful test firing of Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles, Ghauri I, on April 6, 1998
and Ghauri II on April 14, 1999.

There are numerous contributions of Dr. Khan, which have strengthened the defence
capability of Pakistan. Those, among others, include: manufacturing of sophisticated equipment
like Surface-to-Air shoulder-fired anti-aircraft ANZA (MK-I & MK-II) and Baktar Shikan anti tank
guided missiles for the Armed Forces.

Dr. Khan has received honorary degrees of Doctor of Science from the University of
Karachi in 1993, Doctor of Science from Baqai Medical University on December 11, 1998, Doctor
of Science from Hamdard University, Karachi, in March 6, 1999, Doctor of Science from Gomal
University, Dera Ismail Khan, N.W.F.P. on April 16,1999, Doctor of Science from the University of
Engineering & Technology, Lahore on December 9, 2000 and Doctor of Science from the Sir Syed
University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi on March 25, 2001. Apart from his eminent
contribution in the filed of Science and Technology, Dr. Khan is an avid supporter of Science and
Technology education in Pakistan. As the Project Director of GIK Institute of Science and
Technology, he has invested his energies in developing the Institute into an exemplary high
technology institution. For his important and eminent contributions in the field of science and
technology, the President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan conferred upon Dr. Khan the award of
Nishan-i-Imtiaz on 14 August, 1996 and 14 August, 1998. He is also a recipient of Hilal-i-Imtiaz.
Dr. Khan is the only Pakistani to have received the highest civil award of “Nishan-i-Imtiaz” twice.

The list of his contribution and achievement is far too long to be mentioned in this short
citation. He is a person imbued with the spirit of serving the cause of Pakistan and Muslim Ummah
through his able researches, high acumen, intellectual robustness and unwavering devotion. So
numerous are his activities that every segment of society has praised him in different forms. He
has been awarded 63 gold medals by various national institutions and organizations. He was also
presented with 3 gold crowns Dr. Khan is a Fellow of Kazakh National Academy of Sciences, the
first Asian scientist with this honour, Elected Fellow of the Islamic Academy of Sciences and
Honorary Member of the Korean Academy of Science & Technology. He has also been elected as
the Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank’s Advisory Panel on Science and Technology in
the Panel’s first ever meeting, held at the IDB’s headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on October
17, 2000. Being a Fellow of Pakistan Academy of Sciences, he was elected unopposed the
President of the Academy’s in 1997— the position that he still occupies. Besides, he is a member
of a large number of national and international professional organizations, which include Pakistan
Institute of Metallurgical Engineers; Pakistan Institute of Engineers; and Institute of Central and
West Asian Studies. He is a Member of the Institute of Materials, London; American Society of
Metal (ASM); The Metallurgical Society of the American Institute of Metallurgical Mining and
Petroleum Engineers (TMS); Canadian Institute of Metals (CIM) and Japan Institute of Metals
(JIM).

As an ardent supporter of higher education, he sits on the Boards of Governors and
Syndicates of numerous universities and institutes. He is a Member of the Executive Committee
GIK Institute of Engineering and Technology, Topi; Member, Board of Governors, Hamdard
University; Member, Board of Governors, Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology;
Member Syndicate, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; and Member, Board of Governors,
International Islamic University, Islamabad, among others.

He has contributed immensely to the establishment of educational and research institutes in
Pakistan. These include several colleges, schools, Institutes and academies. So wide are the
applications of his activities that his contributions extend to the construction of 12 mosques, 1
tomb, a number of dispensaries and community health centers.

It is rare that a person in single lifetime accomplishes so much. This is done only by men
who are endowed with special abilities by God and who prepare themselves through hard work
and devotion to fulfill the mission of serving mankind.

Appendix-II

MEDALS & AWARDS
A:

Pakistan Civil Awards

1. Conferred Hilal-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan on 14-8-1989 and decorated by the President of
Pakistan on 23-3-1990
2. Conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan on 14-8-1996 and decorated by the President
of Pakistan on 25-3-1997
3. Conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz by the Government of Pakistan on 14-8-1998 for the second time, thus making
Dr. Khan the only Pakistani to have been decorated with the highest civil award twice. The Award was
decorated by the President of Pakistan on 23-3-1999

14. Awarded “Al-Basel Gold Medal” from Ministry of Higher Education, Syrian Arab Republic, November
3, 1997.
15. Awarded Pakistan Engineering Congress Gold Medal by the President of Pakistan Mr. Rafiq Tarrar in
Lahore, on May 12, 1998.
16. Awarded Gold Medal from Old Students Association of Karachi University (OSAKU), by Lt. Gen (Retd)
Moin uddin Haider, Governor of Sindh, in Karachi on July 29, 1998.
17. Awarded Gold Medal by Messrs Alcop Ltd, at a function organised by OSAKU, in Karachi on July 29,
1998.
18. Awarded Gold Medal by Karachi Gymkhana at a function organised by OSAKU, in Karachi on July 29,
1998.
19. Awarded Gold Medal by Mr. Manzoor Roofi at a function of Majlis-e-Mussanefeen in Karachi on
August 18,1998.
20. Awarded Gold Medal by Mr. S. M. Muneer at a function of Majlis-e-Mussanefeen in Karachi on August
18,1998.
21. Awarded Gold Medal by Sheikh Mohammad Sadiq at a function of Majlis-e-Mussanefeen in Karachi
on August 18,1998.
22. Awarded Gold Medal by Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar at a function of Majlis-e-Mussanefeen in Karachi on
August 18,1998.
23. Awarded Gold Medal by the President of Pakistan, Mr. Mohammad Rafiq Tarar at a function of
Pakistan Academy of Sciences in Islamabad on December 8,1998.
24. Presented Gold Crown by the President of Pakistan Mr. Mohammad Rafiq Tarar in a reception hosted
by Pakistan Polytechnic Institute on December 30, 1998, Lahore.
25. Gold Medal by the Governor of Sind, Lt Gen. (Retd) Moin-uddin Haider, at a reception/dinner hosted
by the Dewan Mushtaq Group on December 31, 1998, Karachi.
26. Gold Medal by Pakistan Intellectuals Forum, at a reception on February 16, 1998, in Islamabad.
27. Gold Medal by Pakistan Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVACR) Society on
March 3, 1999, in Islamabad.
28. Pakistan Silk & Rayon Mills Association Gold Medal, presented by the President of Pakistan Mr.
Mohammad Rafiq Tarar at a reception on March 7, 1998, in Karachi.
29. All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Gold Medal presented by President of Pakistan Mr.
Mohammad Rafiq Tarar on March 13, 1999.
30. Gold Medal awarded for the “Vacuumist of the Century” by the Pakistan Vacuum Society, on May 5,
2000.

Pakistan Academy of Sciences.
Kazakh National Academy of Sciences
Pakistan Institute of Metallurgical Engineers.
Pakistan Institute of Engineers.
Institute of Central and West Asian Studies.

MEMBERSHIP
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Chartered Engineer; Member, The Institute of Materials, London.
American Society of Metals (ASM).
The Metallurgical Society of the American Institute of Met., Min. and Petr. Engineers (TMS).
Canadian Institute of Metals (CIM).
Japan Institute of Metals (JIM).

The influence of trace elements on precipitation in Al-4%Cu alloys, Thesis M.Sc. Tech. Delft, June
1967.

9.

Remarks on the application of thermomechanical treatments to Al-bronzes, Report No. 6, Dept. of
Metallurgy, Univ. of Leuven, 1968.

10.

Crystal and microstructure of Cu-Al-Zn and Cu-Al-Zn and Cu-Al-Fe ß-martensites, Presented at the
Annual Meeting of Societe Belge de Microscopie Electronique at Gent, 29th Nov. 1969, with Prof. L.
Delaey.

The spread of Nuclear Weapons among nations: Militarization or Development, pp. 417-430. (Ref.
Nuclear War Nuclear Proliferation and their consequences "Proceedings of the Vth International
Colloquium organised by the Group De Bellerive Geneva 27-29, June 1985, Edited by: Sadruddin Aga
Khan, Published by Clarendon Press-Oxford 1986).

Effect of Casting Parameters and Heat Treatment on the Properties of an Investment Cast Al-7Si-4Cu
Alloy Component, Proceedings of the First European Conference on Advanced Materials and Process
(EUROMAT '89), Aachen, West Germany, 22-24 Nov. 1989.

Electrolytic Ni-Coating and its effects on the impact properties of 18% Ni-350 Maraging Steel,
Mat.Tech.'90, The First European East-West Symposium on Materials and Processes, Finland, June
10-18, 1990.

State of Science and technology in the Muslim World, Science Technology and Development,
Pakistan Council for Science and Technology, Islamabad, Vol. 9, No. 5&6, Sept-Dec. 1990.

88.

Electron Beams in Surface Modification of Metals - The State of the Art, Ministry of Mines and Metals
National Iranian Steel Co., 9-15 March 1991.

89.

A4-P14 Nickel Plating and its Influence on the Properties of an Ultra-High Strength Maraging Steel,
The 2nd European Conference on Advanced Materials and Processes, University of Cambridge, The
Institute of Metals, UK, 22-24 July 1991.

90.

The Rolling Texture of 18Ni-350 Maraging Steel, Published in Journal of Materials Engineering, USA.

91.

Effect of Flow-Turning Direction on the Properties of AA-7075 Thin Valled Tubes, Published in Sheet
Metal Industries, Institute of Sheet Metal Engineering, UK.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Fracture Toughness of AISI 431 Stainless Steel, Published at Mat.
Tech. 91, The 2nd European East-West Symposium on Materials and Processes, Helsinki, Finland,
May 26-30, 1991.

A Study of Martensite to Austenite Transformation in Maraging Steels, International Conf. on
Condensed Matter Physics & Applications (ICCMPA), Organised by Physics Department, University of
Bahrain, Bahrain, 13-16 Apr. 1992.

107.

A Study of Pakistani Gypsum by X-Ray Powder Diffraction, Published in Canadian Mineralogist.

108.

Influence of Second Phase Particles on the Development of Textures in Composite Materials,
Proceedings of the Federation of Asian Scientific Academies and Societies (FASAS) Symposium on
New Materials and Contemporary Applications, 28th Nov. to 1st Dec. 1992, Islamabad, Pakistan, pp.
40-45.

Method to Determine Optimum Number of Knots for Cubic Splines, Published in Communications in
Applied Numerical Methods.

114

Materials Required for Nuclear Power Reactors, Invited Talk at the International Conference on
Condensed Matter Physics & Applications, 13-16 April 1992, University of Bahrain, Bahrain.

115.

A Novel Method of Micro-Texture Analysis Using Electron Backscattered Patterns, Presented at the
International Conference on Condensed Matter Physics & Applications, 13-16 April 1992, University of
Bahrain, Bahrain.